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NEWS - Sunday, September 11, 2005

Calif. Violent Game Bill Passes

Calif. Violent Game Bill Passes
A long-contested California bill which would ban the sale of violent videogames to minors passed State Assembly late on Thursday, though the legislation awaits the signature of Gov. Schwarzenegger in order to become law. The legislation passed Assembly by a bipartisan 65-7 vote.
Assembly Bill 1179 makes game retailers liable for up to $1000 in fines for selling mature-themed games to minors, and requires that violent games be clearly labeled as such. The bill was authored by California Assemblyman Leland Yee, who has championed similar legislation for years now.
"Unlike movies where you passively watch violence, in a video game, you are the active participant and making decisions on who to stab, maim, burn or kill," said Yee in an official statement. "As a result, these games serve as learning tools that have a dramatic impact on our children."
Opposing the bill are representatives of the game industry, who believe that existing measures, such as the ESRB rating system, are already sufficient in keeping mature-themed games from young players.
Gov. Schwarzenegger now has 30 days to either sign or veto the bill.
Source: http://www.ign.com